DIY Colorblock Bag A.K.A. How to Paint Leather with Acrylic Paint

70’s-style colorblocking is a hot trend for Fall 2011, seen on the runways and now beginning to trickle down into street style and retailers. I was hankering after a colorblocked purse, but didn’t want to pay a lot for it. Thankfully, thrift stores are a wonderful source of older handbags, and I found an adorable cross-body bag for a mere $4.99. But it was rather beat-up and needed a little makeover, so I figured it was time to break out the brushes and do some leather painting! Though technically when you paint leather, what is most recommended is to use paint that is specifically formulated for use on leather, like Angelus.

However, if you are feeling squeamish about buying an unfamiliar product online, or they don’t ship to your country, or you want to use some acrylic craft paint that you already have on hand, fear not! Leather and suede can actually be painted with acrylic paint, with fairly good results if you take the time to prep the piece properly. So here’s how to add some vibrant color-blocking to some leather or suede pieces you already own:

How to Add Some DIY Colorblocking to a Leather Bag

You Need:

*leather or suede handbag

*acrylic craft paint

And…

*water

*small bowl for paint

*paintbrush

*masking or painter’s tape

*soft cloth

*rubbing alcohol

*fine grit (like 800) sandpaper

How To:

1.. Use fine-grit sandpaper to remove any shiny parts to the leather you will paint. We need to rough up the surface so the paint will adhere. (Not necessary on suede items.)

2. Wipe with a clean, damp cloth to remove residue.

3. Wipe the area with a cloth saturated with rubbing alcohol to remove any surface finishes or protective coatings the leather might have.

4. Mask off the parts of the bag you will be painting with tape.

5. Now the bag should be ready to receive paint. Mix the paint with water in a 1:1 ratio in your bowl, and paint on the mixture using long strokes. It will look streaky at first, but this is necessary to allow the leather to soak up the paint.

6. Add 2-3 more coats, allowing the paint to dry partially between coats. Do not allow the paint to dry fully; the leather needs to remain damp between coats. After each coat, flex the leather so the paint won’t crack.

7. Now it’s time to use undiluted paint. Spread on using long coats again, flexing after each coat. Allow to dry between coats – you may need a couple. It took 3 for my seafoam color to become truly opaque on my dark brown bag.

8. Remove masking tape once completely dry.

You’re done! No protective coating is necessary, though if you’re worried about water-fastness, a layer of matte Mod Podge might be a good choice.

Wear with neutrals or mix it up with crazy colors for a Fall look!

**Whether acrylic paint will work on vinyl or manmade leather surfaces is fairly dependent on the surface; it’s mostly trial and error for faux.

Yes, it’s so easy! As long as the leather item isn’t something that’s particularly soft or that crinkles a lot (otherwise the paint will crack and it’s probably much better to use Angelus), then acrylic paint will work!!

Letty Benavides
on October 25, 2016 at 1:23 pm

CommentOMG!! THANK YOU SO MUCH! I FOUND A GORGEOUS LEATHER BANANA REPUBLIC PURSE AT A THRIFT STORE AND I SERIOUSLY WANTED IT IT WAS OLIVE GREEN AND SO I DID GET IT IT WAS FADED, BUT IT IS BEAUTIFUL. I LOOKED FOR HOW TO REVIVE IT AND I CAME ACROSS THIS DIY, IT NOW LOOKS BRAND NEW!! THANK YOU I LOVE IT! ☺

So cool! Can’t tell in the pic but does the Nine West logo stand out more under the paint? I really want to try this but will prob have to buy a new bag to do so. Great job!Diana recently posted…What I Wore: Fashion Night Out

Still very fancy! I’m going to try this with one of my bags. I have an all-black ALDO bag and I want to try and paint it all burgundy. Will let you know how it turns out!Diana recently posted…IFB Weekly Roundup: Links À La Mode

Wow, what a great idea! And the instructions for prepping leather for acrylic paint seem like they’re really useful for all kinds of projects. Thanks so much for sharing, Carly!Rachel recently posted…Sunday Street Style

I’ve used fabric paint & silkscreening paint on leather before & it doesn’t crack – because it’s developed to move with fabric. It’s fantastic. You should give it at try!

tara
on November 28, 2012 at 10:42 am

was reading comments under a DIY leather painting post at chic-steals.com …
I wonder if you could recommend any particular fabric or silk screening paint brand. I had been looking for Angelus as I am working with deer hide which is very soft and pliable. But Angelus doesn’t appear to be available in Canada…

I suppose you can try, but it would definitely be a case of trial-and-error to get it right. I’m not sure if you plan on painting the inside as well, but what I would be concerned about is where the inside rings, paper, and outer flap touch. Acrylic paint will likely show signs of wear as you use the planner…and you probably want to be able to put it inside a bag or something to take with you places, correct? Either that or hold it in your hand…and both ways I would think would wear away at the paint. For something that has to withstand rubbing and is exposed to sweat/pressure routinely, I would think using Angelus Leather Paint would be a much, much safer investment. Or leather dye (done by a professional), since in a planner/agenda there’s usually backing or internal inserts that exist to stiffen the piece, and they may not be completely water-fast. Better yet, find an agenda in the color you like rather than painting one…and if you really, really want to paint one, try painting a design on the front (skipping the flap closure area) rather than a large swath of opaque color. Good luck!

great bag, I love the shade of green you used! Or leather dye (done by a professional), since in a planner/agenda there’s usually backing or internal inserts that exist to stiffen the piece, and they may not be completely water-fast. I really want to try this but will prob have to buy a new bag to do so.Yesenia Mcintyre recently posted…Arthritis Tips

My girlfriend just read your article and went and painted her old shoes and they came up great haha. I didnt think the end result would look any good, but i must say. They look as if she just got them from the shop.

Hi Carly,
I’m back to this post of yours. I am painting a leather belt. The belt will be flexed a lot of course. I am thinking adding textile medium to my acrylic paint to make it more flexible. Any thoughts? Did you purse held up well? It should have been since the area you painted is flat and seems like won’t be flexed too much.
thanks!
xx
maya

I think so; the alcohol is not only to clean the surface but something that strips away any finishing chemicals that have been applied to the leather that won’t let the paint adhere. You could always try it not using the alcohol in an inconspicuous place and see how the paint sticks!

Rachel
on April 20, 2012 at 10:03 am

Thank you! 🙂 That makes sense.. I’m going to use this to make a tribal pattern for my art project!

I loved this idea so much I went out the next day and bought some acrylic paint for this leather clutch I had. I realized though that once the paint dries, it feels very rough and super dry. I did some research online and realized I could soften it up a bit by rubbing a cloth saturated with Windex over it a several times. Now it’s a really nice smooth, softer surface and I’m really happy with it. Just thought this tip might be helpful for others with the same problem.

Thanks, Kristine, for your great tip! I’m guessing the Windex has similar properties to the rubbing alcohol that softens the surface of the leather prior to the paint application…I had no idea you could apply it after the fact! Thanks again for your feedback – really appreciate it:-)

Thank you for this article. I am hunting for ideas on changing the color of cowboy boots…some folks use spray paint and some folks use brushes. I need to cover black boots with white paint, so my biggest concern is cracking. These are only to wear at a horse show…they do not have to last forever, but still a concern. Thanks a ton for the article and the pictures, both very helpful!

You’re welcome! Hope you’re able to revamp your boots and they don’t crack…I would proceed cautiously at the front of the boots, where the top of the foot hits your ankle; there could be a lot of wrinkling there, that could crack the paint. Really, Angelus leather paint is probably a better bet if you can get your hands on it! Good luck:-)

Hi Susan-I personally did not put any sealant on top of the paint. I guess it depends how wet you get it, and how much you rub it. Too much abrasion and moisture will likely remove all your hard work. People who work with leather usually use Bag Kote (http://www.amazon.com/Fiebing%C3%A2-x20AC-TMs-Kote–Neutral/dp/B008ROQ34I/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1398170960&sr=8-2&keywords=bag+kote) to seal paint and give it a soft finish, rather than a hard plastic-y sheen. One forum says to mix Bag Kote with water 60/40, and apply. There’s ammonia in it, but if you’re looking for a top-quality sealant, that is it. You could also use a coating of beeswax for an eco-friendly option. Hope that helps!

Yasmine
on June 27, 2014 at 1:57 pm

Just found this tutorial via Pinterest and I’m going to try a version of my own! Just wondering how the bag and paint have held up after a few years. Still in good shape or has it needed touch ups? Thanks!

Hi Yasmine! My bag is actually doing pretty well; the paint has softened over the years but not cracked. It looks a little “rubbed” in places and worn-in. I think this would work well for soft leather where you’re wanting a worn-in look, but for bright pops of solid color that need to stay bright and unmarred…maybe actual Angelus leather paint with a coat of sealant might be better. Hope that helps! 🙂

Mayme J
on June 12, 2015 at 6:38 am

Question: I purchased a chaises lounge that’s just beautiful. Only that it came in a color that not opprable to my living room color scheme. I have a chocolate brown in color. It’s just that my other color I choose to accommodate, go with and matches well with it is my favorite color of purple. Well a lilac, or a lavender paired well. So my intention are to paint the chaise front cushion portion thatthat’s to sit on, I would like to paint in the lilac or lavender color. And the side and bottom have in chocolate brown color. Now, my question to you is how would that look, and is it at ALL pliable! The vision in my head assure that it would come out lovely and be quite different. Where when people step in a see it, their fist impression would “wow”that lovely; inquiring where is it that I brought that from.

Hi Mayme, what an interesting question!! First you ask about doing colorblocking on a piece of furniture – I think that would look fantastic! As long as you have elements of colorblocking/modernist styling in the room somewhere else too…otherwise the lounge might look really out of place if it’s a vintage decor room or something similar.
As to your question about painting…I assume the chaise lounge is leather? I would NOT recommend doing this to something that is leather where people sit on it. It will most definitely crack with wear and could even leave paint bits on your guests’ rear ends!! (Quelle horreur!!) I’d recommend finding a slipcover for your sofa that’s in the perfect shade of lavender (or even DIY’ing one yourself – there are a ton of useful tutorials on there on How to DIY a Sofa Slipcover!) Alternatively you could get a portion of it reupholstered in colored leather if you’re ready to commit to the color…but you may want to try the slipcover route first to try it out in the room and see how it feels. Best of luck with your amazing chaise lounge!! 😀

The panel that you painted green looks like it was professionally done. I have a suede leather jacket that has lost some of its natural dark brown color. Would I be able to darken up my jacket in a similar way?

Thank you, Bryan! Honestly I’d recommend dyeing for a suede jacket – acrylic painting is kind of a last resort, and seems to work for colorblocking and going to a lighter, opaque color. Since suede is soft I would be concerned about the paint cracking with movement. If you’re going darker I would think dyeing is a better long-term solution. Hope that helps!!

I just purchased some used leather shoes, that are fairly new looking. The Leather is very soft with a matte shine ( typical leather sandal look) I painted one shoe with DecoArt SoSoft fabric paint, it is a flexible fabric paint that says it does not cause cracking. It looks great, but the touch seems a slightly sticky. Would I need a sealant if that is the case? Any thoughts/advice. Much appreciated, JoyceJoyce recently posted…Shopswell = The Best Answer to Dynamic Shoppable Lists Ever!

Hi Joyce, yes I know DecoArt SoSoft…and I’m not surprised it has remained sticky. I found it to leave a sheen on fabric when I used it. I would definitely use a mattifying spray sealant or leather sealant/shoe rainproofing spray on it…hopefully that will reduce stickiness. I hope that works for you!! 🙂

Leather bags are tough and good for everyday use. Fashion accessories from leathers too are cool also. And adding some color on them would be nice too.luxury leather bags Manila recently posted…COCO ROSS

I really thank you for keeping this blog till now and i just recently found out your blog post.
It was so difficult to find any leather paints in Singapore as the Angelus brand is not allowed to ship to Singapore.
Did not know that acrylic paints that could be used on leather products.
Thank you for the great tutorial !

carnell
on December 28, 2015 at 3:22 pm

Yes i wanted to know if ANY permanent acrylic paint is good on gym shoes and timbs or leather shoes. Other than angelus paint. And spray proof spray on it found in a local shoe store like finishline or footlocker. Thanks in advance !

A camp
on January 2, 2016 at 3:52 am

I have a Gucci metallic gold Boston bag that the handles have peeled really bad and cant wear it. This bag is no longer available to be fixed so I was wondering if the fabric paint will work on these handles. Or would u recommend a metallic tape.

I’ve noticed a lot of bags get peeling handles after long years of use, since the handles get the most wear and tear. I would absolutely not recommend painting the handles with paint since it will flake off just as the original leather did. It might look nice for a short time but soon the same thing will happen. I also wouldn’t recommend a tape since the tape will peel up eventually too. Can you get the handles replaced at a leather repair shop? Many shops will do this…but it could cost a bit of money. Or you could contact Gucci customer service for a recommendation of what to do – some luxury goods companies offer a service where you send your damaged piece in and they fix it. I’m really sorry but I can’t give you any better options that would be longer wear. You could potentially wrap some fabric around it as a handle guard to cover up the worn area. Hope that helps!

Wileen
on January 2, 2016 at 9:14 am

Hi. I bought a vintage Whiting and Davis metal handbag – which is perfect size! However the silver leather thin strap no longer has any silver on it. It might have been wearing off and the owner or store chose to remove it all. I would like it to be silver (matching bag) again. Can I paint! Will it come off on my clothes? Any other suggestion?

Hi Wileen, thanks for your question. No, do not paint it with acrylic paint – if it’s the strap you need to use to hold on to the bag, the paint will peel off with wear and handling. I don’t know what the strap looks like so I don’t know if the silver was a coating or the original leather – but you could potentially paint the original leather with Jacquard Lumiere Metallic Silver. Some people have had success with painting shoes this since it soaks in to fabrics, but a leather strap that needs to withstand handling may not do well. You can try to purchase a replacement silver strap somewhere (like here on Ebay) or take the bag to a leather repair shop to see what they advise – they may have a direct line on better replacement parts, though there will be a significant markup. Hope that helps!

Eilern
on January 3, 2016 at 4:32 pm

Thank you. My initial thought was to replace. I think i will go with that.

This is an awesome tutorial! I am wondering if this same process can be done to patent leather shoes? I recently purchased a pointy toe kitten heel shoes from payless and it only came in black for my particular size. I am planning to paint it myself into a coral pink; but not sure if the shoe will up hold after usage. Will the shoe paint not crack after use even if I apply a gloss finish sealant?

Thanks Kim! In answer to your question, I don’t think so. Patent leather is a leather coated with a synthetic resin to achieve the glossy look, and just applying rubbing alcohol like in the tutorial above will not dissolve the resin coating, so the paint won’t stick. You can paint over the patent leather certainly but the paint may not adhere or bead up or drip off…even if you get it to “stick” it may just peel off if you flex the shoe one day. (Think like those peel-off nailpolishes from the 1980’s!) You can certainly try with a paint formulated for leather (like Angelus, linked in my tutorial) but I wouldn’t recommend acrylic paint for this project. Hope that helps!

Jill Waller
on August 7, 2016 at 5:59 am

I know you posted this forever ago.,But I just starting working with Leather and have wondered if it can be painted on.? I’m a professional Artist and thought it would be cool. You are my Angel today.Im so inspired. Best Tutorial EVER! Thank You ?

Thank you, Jill! Yes…this post I did was from awhile ago 🙂 It depends what you mean by “painting.” If it’s in a colorblock fashion like in my tutorial post, then sure. If it is an intricate design, illustration etc. then I would not recommend relying on acrylic paint to do the job – it takes too many coats! Use Angelus leather paints – they are specifically formulated for brilliant color without having to do the multiple coats – and are flexible when dried as well. Painting leather with acrylic paint is kind of a hack – and if you’re an artist I’d recommend using the highest-quality stuff you can find – which would be Angelus. Best of luck – I’d love to know your results! 😀

Wanda
on October 5, 2016 at 11:00 am

I needed a trick to update a plain leather journal binder for use as a journal. This will be a temporary item until I use what I’ve got (current planner goes until the end of 2017). I’m using a very old, popular brand leather planner binder. I’m not sure it will last the whole year but I’m giving it a shot thanks to your tutorial.

I started painting a faux leather jacket with tulip soft paints. Every thing came out fine and dried completely. But, every time the fabric is folded onto itself (painted surface against painted surface) for longer than a few hours it peels off. I don’t know if it’s because it’s been hot out lately but I was curious if I needed to put a sealant over the painted portions. Thanks!

Ooooh yes you absolutely do not want to use this technique on anything that has painted part touching painted part. The paint does not truly bond with its surface! Especially not faux leather – which is polyurethane and not animal hide as in the project I shared. For such projects I’d recommend a paint that is specifically formulated for vinyl/polurethane. Angelus may work but I’m not sure when it comes to faux leather. However…since you’ve already done it using Tulip soft paints… I don’t know. A sealant *may* be helpful but again it’s merely a coating on the paint. The paint is not completely bonded to your surface (and never can be because of the paint molecules and the faux leather that is resistant to paint in general). It could just make your paint + sealant come off in a sheet instead. I’m sorry, you’re in a very difficult situation. Sealant is not meant for faux leather either. You can try it but I can’t promise that you’ll get good results.